Check out the new Google Chromebook on this morning’s GlobalTV Monday Morning News Tech Talk segment:
Google’s much publicized Chromebook arrives in Canada April 5, with pre-oders available now at Futureshop.ca and Bestbuy.ca. I have been using one for the past week or so and it’s unlike any other tablet or laptop you may have tried before.
That’s because it’s designed to run your apps on a browser like Gmail and store most of data online. It’s Google’s Chrome Web OS. You get 100GB free Google Drive Cloud Storage, with the purchase of an attractively priced 11.6” Samsung, $269.99 or Acer $249.99.
“The part we are most proud of where the Chromebook is concerned is that our Kitchener-Waterloo team is such an integral part of the platform development,” said Wendy Bairos from Google Canada Global Communications & Public affairs.
The Chromebook is the next step up from a smartphone or tablet in a larger, more complete laptop functionality but relies on an Internet connection to take in all of Google’s Chrome OS experience. The Chrome Web Store has thousands of web applications, not all like apps, but rich websites too. About 650 apps are playable offline, including Gmail, Google Docs, Calendar, Scratchpad, Play movies or songs and a rudimentary photo editor. Compare that to all other current devices like tablets and laptops that have their own physical storage and run everything from their own hard drives wherever you are. The Chromebook does not require the same power, relying on the Web-ruo apps, thus cheaper laptops.
Here’s what I like:
-It’s cheap to own, half the price of the cheapest laptops. Its faster and at a larger screen size than Android tablets. It feels like a full laptop with QWERTY keyboard, other than some special additional Chrome function keys. The Cap key is missing (still there as a combo) as are the Windows or Apple keys. It’s well suited for folks who spend most of their time online but still need to run Office apps and watch their own media, like movies and songs which they can store onboard. It will work well in a collaborative school or office environment using Google’s excellent free Office compatible suites and more. I was able to play 1080p quality movies smoothly, even off a USB stick. It’s also physically safer from viruses, being run virtually online, but you can still be fooled going to a rogue site online. It has Chrome Remote Desktop for accessing files from other computers. Some games like Lara Croft are free with ads with the option to buy the game outright. It upgrades automatically and can use other popular search engines (through its omnibox) like Amazon (Canada), Ask.com, Wikipedia, Yahoo Canada, Bing, Yahoo Quebec and more. You can also share with other users, each with their own sign-on password, profile and apps. It has customizable settings for wallpapers and can print to your WiFi printer through the installed Google Cloud Print. Some models will also have a SIM slot for mobile data for access when away from hotspots. The Get Started help file is well designed and is worth reading first…don’t go exploring on your own because you will get frustrated quickly. Remember, the future is here, but works differently Chrome OS compared to Android tablets, iPads, Windows and Mac computers.
Here’s what I don’t like:
-It loses its spark when you are not online, compared to Android, Mac and Windows devices. Not all apps from the Chrome Web Store will play when you are offline. It relies on Google Play Music instead of the popular iTunes or Media Player. Sadly, neither Chromebook model offers Bluetooth, which would come handy since I couldn’t connect any camera of smartphone (including Google’s own NEXUS 4) via USB. Perhaps it’s a driver issue to be fixed. No Skype, get used to it, you have to use Google’s services. You can easily choose to download apps set up for offline use. But Google’s core Word suite is a three step process to set up. The GUI has some awkwardness like a two-step process on how to view a window. Depending on your Internet connection, it responds slower onscreen when working and saving files.
My thoughts:
The Chromebook has promise but is not ready to replace a full powered Mac or Windows model. But it does make you realize how much current tablets, iPads and smartphones go online anyway. So why not commit to a device that thrives online?
If a cave man was shown the Chromebook with a permanent online connection, he would probably like it. It would be magical. Is that because he doesn’t know any better or is it my subjective perception of living in the clouds?
My experience with accepting the Chromebook is akin to learning how to ride a bike without training wheels or learning how to swim. Anyone ready for the digital plunge into the clouds?
Computing or accessing data from the cloud is where we should be heading. Google’s first full implementation of online computing is a brave step in the grand scheme of things, but no giant leap. We need a global hotspot for that, not pricey cellular data plans.
Would I take it solo to my next out of town trip? Not without my regular laptop…yet.
The Specs:
Here are brief specs on the two Chromebooks available in Canada:
The Samsung Chromebook, $269.99 is one of the lightest laptops on the market at 2.5 pounds, 0.8 inches thick and easily runs for more than six hours. it boots up in less than 10 seconds and resumes instantly with a 11.6” 1,366 x 768 display resolution, It also has a 16GB internal SSD drive, an SD/SDHC/SDXC reader, USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, an full size HDMI TV out connector and maybe a SIM card slot for mobile data, for when you are away from WiFi. It also has a headphone/mic connector. Its Samsung processor runs it noticeably faster with twice the battery life, six hours and hardly any heat when on your lap. VGA Out and Ethernet dongles are optional. Its plastic construction is surprisingly sturdy with feel-good gentle curves.
The Acer C7 Chromebook, $249.99 differs mostly in the much larger 320 GB traditional spinning hard drive. It has a full-size bilingual keyboard and a similar 11.6” display. It’s powered by a mobile Intel Core processor with dedicated graphics memory but runs warmer than the Samsung model with 33 per cent less battery time. It has an SD/SDHC/reader, HDMI out and is a little thicker and heavier than the Samsung due to the physically larger hard drive.
If you want speed and longer run times, go Samsung. If you want a lot more internal storage, like movies, go Acer.
The Chromebook Pixel touch screen laptop, not available in Canada yet, offers a gorgeous retina-like display in a tier one package design starting at $1,299 US. While it has received much media attention, most testers agree its high price is a mismatch to the limitations of the current Chrome OS.
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